We've spent 90 days with the Honor Magic V5 since its UK launch in August, using it as our daily driver across business travel, gaming, photography and everything in between. This is our verdict.
What Honor got right
The Magic V5's headline achievement is thinness. At 4.1mm unfolded (8.8mm closed), it is the slimmest book-style foldable ever shipped, and it really does feel more like a premium slab phone when unfolded. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 still feels chunky by comparison, despite Samsung's own thinness push this year.
Weight is the other standout: 217g, lighter than a Galaxy S25 Ultra. That alone makes the Magic V5 the first foldable that never feels like a compromise in terms of in-hand feel.
Three months of use: what held up
- Inner display: No visible crease degradation, no dead pixels, no delamination. Honor's hinge engineering is clearly excellent.
- Battery life: The 5,820mAh silicon-carbon cell consistently delivers a full day with heavy use - better than any other foldable we've tested.
- Camera quality: The 50MP 1/1.56-inch main sensor is genuinely flagship class. The 64MP periscope telephoto (3x optical, up to 100x digital) is one of the best zoom lenses on any phone, period.
- Cover screen usability: At 6.43 inches with a normal aspect ratio, you rarely need to unfold the Magic V5 for quick tasks.
- MagicOS 9: Still not our favourite Android skin, but it has grown on us. Performance is solid and bloat is manageable after initial setup.
What we didn't love
- Software updates: Honor only commits to 4 years of OS and 5 years of security updates. Samsung offers 7 years on the Z Fold 7.
- IPX8 rating: Water resistant but not dust protected. A Galaxy Z Fold 7 is fully IP48.
- Charging: 66W wired is quick, but still slower than Oppo and Xiaomi foldables.
- Pricing: At £1,699 SIM-free, the Magic V5 costs the same as a Z Fold 7.
- Accessory ecosystem: Scarce in the UK. First-party cases are hard to find.
How it compares
| Feature | Magic V5 | Z Fold 7 | Pixel 10 Pro Fold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 217g | 239g | 257g |
| Thickness unfolded | 4.1mm | 4.2mm | 5.1mm |
| Battery | 5,820mAh | 4,400mAh | 4,650mAh |
| IP rating | IPX8 | IP48 | IPX8 |
| Updates | 4/5 years | 7/7 years | 7/7 years |
| RRP | £1,699 | £1,799 | £1,749 |
Should you buy it?
If you want the thinnest, lightest, longest-lasting foldable money can buy, yes. The Magic V5's battery life alone is a game-changer for anyone who has given up on foldables because of their endurance. The camera system is also clearly the best in class.
If long-term software support matters to you, or you need genuine dust resistance, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 remains the safer pick. But for us, after 90 days, the Magic V5 is simply the better phone to live with.
Our verdict: 4.5/5. Honor has made the first truly desirable foldable.